Salt Tectonics

Initiation of Diapirs

BY: Chris Bays

There are two different main methods that iniate diaper development.  They are Regional Extension and Buoyancy or (inverse density).  The buoyancy method has been around for almost 50 years and has been refined and tested.  The regional extensional model is relatively new and has been around only since about 1992.  New seismic imaging instruments and better computer modeling have given geologist the opportunity to look further into diaper activation. It will probably take several years to figure out exactly what the answer to this question is, but with each passing many people are researching it.  Although, with more knowledge comes more questions.

Figure is from Nittleton 1934

Figure is from Nittleton 1934

Figure is from Jackson Jan. 1994

References

Jackson, M. P. A., and B. C. Vendeville, Jan. 1994, Regional Extension asa Geologic Trigger for Diapirism, GSA Bulletin, v. 106, p. 57-75

Jackson, M. P. A., and B. C. Vendeville, D. D. Schultz,  1994, Structural Dynamics of Salt Systems, Annual Review Earth and Planetary Science, v. 22, p. 93-117

Jackson, M. P. A., 1995, Retrospective Salt Tectonics, in Jackson, M. P. A., D. G. Roberts, S. Snelson, eds, Salt Tectonics: a global perspective:  AAPG Memoir 65, p. 1-28

Nittleton, L. L., 1934, Fluid Mechanics of Salt Domes, AAPG Bulletin, v. 18, p. 1175-1204

Rowan, M., 2000, Modern Salt Tectonics, Web Page of Petroleum Technology Transfer Council,

Web Page of Bureau of Economic Geologists, www.beg.utexas.edu,